Images

 June 29, 2021

Interesting what a photo can do. Earlier today, I posted a photo of my Ural so I could connect with a gentleman who followed me to the inspection station this morning just to inquire about it. A host of comments followed the posting of this image.

Images have power. I don’t know how it works, but there is something about an image that reaches deep inside us, which is one of the reasons why they were forbidden to the ancient Israelites. Especially forbidden were any images intended to represent God himself. Human beings are the only image of God we are permitted. The earliest text—Genesis—says that God made us in his own image. There is something about us that reflects the very nature of God; imperfectly, to be sure, but however flawed and distorted that image becomes through sin, it still remains. 

St. Paul tells us that image is perfected in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus himself said it when he told Philip, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father (John 14:9). Just as the photo of my bike garnered attention, so we are to draw attention to Jesus, who points us to his Father. 

Lord, may it be so.